Woven or knitted fabric containing two different yarns and clothing comprising the same

ABSTRACT

A woven or knitted fabric, formed from two types of yarns different in self-elongating property upon absorbing water and capable of facilitating the air-permeability when wetted with water, is constituted so that a ratio A/B of a mean length A of yarns ( 1 ) having a high water-absorbing, self-elongating property to a mean length B of yarns ( 2 ) arranged in the same direction as that of the yarn ( 1 ) and having a lower water-absorbing, self-elongating property than that of the yarn ( 1 ) is adjusted to 0.9 or less.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a woven or knitted fabric containingtwo different types of yarns and a clothing containing the fabric. Morespecifically, the present invention relates to a woven or knitted fabriccontaining two different types of yarns, wherein the opening area of thefabric increases as it absorbs water to facilitate the air-permeabilityof the fabric, while the opening area of the fabric decreases as itbecomes dry to reduce the air-permeability, and also to a clothingcontaining the fabric.

The woven or knitted fabric containing two different types of yarnsaccording to the present invention is free from the uncomfortablefeeling caused by wetting as well as inferior air-permeability thereofdue to sweat when wearing the same.

BACKGROUND ART

There has been a problem in that, when a woven or knitted fabric ofsynthetic fiber or natural fiber is applied to a clothing wherein sweatmay be produced during the use, such as sportswear or underwear, anuncomfortable feeling occurs due to the dampness, and the inferiorair-permeability, by caused by the sweat.

An air-permeability self-adjustment type woven or knitted fabric hasbeen proposed, as means for eliminating such a uncomfortable feelingcaused by sweating, in which the air-permeability of the woven orknitted fabric increases as the humidity within the clothing becomeshigher due to sweating, so that moisture dwelling in the clothing iseffectively discharged therefrom, while the air-permeability of thewoven or knitted fabric decreases as the humidity within the clothingbecomes lower when the sweating stops, so that the chilliness due to theexcessive discharge of moisture is restricted, whereby the wearingcomfort is always maintained.

For example, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No.3-213518, a woven or knitted fabric including side-by-side typeconjugated fibers is disclosed, in which different kinds of polymerlayers, namely a polyester layer and a polyamide layer, are bondedtogether. The wetness of clothing and the deterioration of theair-permeability are eliminated by the deformation of the fiber whenmoisture is highly absorbed therein by using the difference in moistureabsorption between the different kinds of polymer layers. However, inthe side-by-side type conjugated fiber, an amount of deformation infiber configuration is small even if a large amount of moisture isabsorbed, whereby the performance thereof has not been sufficientlyexhibited. Further, there is another problem in that special productionfacilities are necessary for simultaneously spinning the two kinds ofpolymers, resulting in increase in the production cost.

Also, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 10-77544 discloses awoven or knitted fabric formed of a moisture-absorbing twisted yarnproduced by twisting a yarn of moisture-absorbing polymer fibers. Thisfabric changes its shape from a planar structure to a three-dimensionalstructure by generating a twisting torque when absorbing moisture toincrease the air-permeability. However, this woven or knitted fabric isproblematic in that the fabric dimension is becomes unstable because thefabric largely changes from the planar structure to thethree-dimensional structure when absorbing moisture. In addition, as ayarn twisting process is necessary, there is a problem in that theproduction cost rises.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a woven or knittedfabric containing two different types of yarns and clothing containingthe same wherein, although the opening area of the fabric increases asit absorbs moisture to facilitate the air-permeability of the fabric andthe opening area of the fabric decreases as it becomes dry to reduce theair-permeability, the change in dimension and configuration of thefabric is minimized.

The inventors of the present invention have diligently studied toachieve the above-mentioned object and found that it is possible tominimize the change in dimension of a woven or knitted fabric obtainedfrom a two types of yarns different from each other in self-elongatingproperty upon absorbing water, by providing a specific difference inyarn length in the weave or knit stitch, wherein the change in dimensionof the fabric becomes less between the wet state and the dry state, andthe opening area of the fabric increases due to the water absorption(moisture absorption) to facilitate the air-permeability, while theopening area of the fabric decreases when dried to lower theair-permeability. Based on such knowledge, the present invention hasbeen completed.

The two-different-yarn-containing woven or knitted fabric of the presentinvention is a woven or knitted fabric containing two types of yarndifferent, in self-elongating property upon absorbing water, from eachother wherein, when a test piece is prepared from the fabric in such amanner that said woven or knitted fabric is stabilized in dimension inthe atmosphere having a temperature at 20° C. and a relative humidity at65% and then cut into pieces of 30 cm long in the warp or wale directionand 30 cm long in the weft or course direction; and yarns (1) having ahigh water-absorbing and self-elongating property and yarns (2) having alow water-absorbing and self-elongating property and respectivelycontained in the test pieces satisfy the following requirement:A/B≦0.9wherein A represents a mean length of the yarns (1) having highwater-absorbent and self-elongative property and B represents a meanlength of said yarns (2) having low water-absorbing and self-elongatingproperty, the yarns (1) and (2) being arranged in the same direction aseach other in the test piece and picked up from the test piece; thelength of the respective yarn being measured under a load of 1.76mN/dtex when the yarn is a non-elastic yarn having an elongation atbreak of 200% or less or under a load of 0.0088 mN/dtex when the yarn isan elastic yarn having an elongation at break higher than 200%, andwhereby the air-permeability of said fabric increases when wetted withwater.

In the woven or knitted fabric of the present invention containing twodifferent types of yarn, when the two types of yarns (1) and (2)different in the water-absorbing and self-elongating property arerespectively subjected to a measurement of self-elongation uponabsorbing water in such a manner that each of the yarns is wound 10times around a reel for hank having a circumference of 1.125 m longunder a load of 0.88 mN/dtex to form a hank; the hank is removed fromthe reel and left to stand in the air atmosphere having a temperature at20° C. and a relative humidity at 65% for 24 hours to dry the hank; thenthe length (Ld, m) of the dry hank is measured under a load of 1.76mN/dtex when the yarn is a non-elastic yarn having an elongation atbreak of 200% or less, or under a load of 0.0088 mN/dtex when the yarnis an elastic yarn having an elongation at break higher than 200%; thehank is immersed in water at a temperature at 20° C. for 5 minutes; thenthe hank is taken out from water; a length (Lw, m) of the wet hank ismeasured under the same load as described above in response to theelongation at break of the hank; and the self-elongation of each yarn iscalculated in accordance with the following equation:Self-elongation of yarn (%)=[(LW−Ld)/(Ld)]×100,preferably, one (1) of the two type of yarns is a high water-absorbing,self-elongating yarn having a mean self-elongation of +5% or more andthe other (2) is a low water-absorbing, self-elongating yarn having amean self-elongation lower than +5%.

In the woven or knitted fabric of the present invention containing twodifferent types of yarns, preferably the difference (E₍₁₎−E₍₂₎) betweenthe self-elongation (E₍₁₎) upon absorbing water of the yarn (1) and theself-elongation (E₍₂₎) upon absorbing water of the yarn (2) is in arange of from 5 to 40%.

The woven or knitted fabric of the present invention containing twodifferent types of yarns may have a knitted fabric structure, in whichthe yarns (1) and (2) are combined in parallel with each other, and thecombined yarns form composite yarn loops in the fabric.

The woven or knitted fabric of the present invention containing twodifferent types of yarn may have a woven fabric structure in which theyarns (1) and (2) are combined in parallel with each other, and thecombined yarns form at least one of the warps and wefts of the wovenfabric.

In the woven or knitted fabric of the present invention containing twodifferent types of yarn, composite yarns or paralleled yarns formed fromthe two different types of yarns (1) and (2), and the yarn (2) ispreferably arranged alternately with every at least one yarn in at leastone direction selected from the warp and weft directions of the wovenfabric structure or in at least one direction selected from the wale andcourse directions in the knitted fabric structure.

In the woven or knitted fabric of the present invention containing twodifferent types of yarns, preferably at least one yarn (1) is combinedwith at least one yarn (2) to form a composite yarn.

In the woven or knitted fabric of the present invention containing twodifferent types of yarns, fibers from which the yarn (1) having a highwater-absorbing and self-elongating property is constituted, arepreferably selected from polyetherester fibers formed frompolyetherester elastomer comprising hard segments comprisingpolybutylene terephthalate blocks and soft segments comprisingpolyoxyethylene glycol blocks.

In the woven or knitted fabric of the present invention containing twodifferent types of yarn, fibers from which the yarn (2) having a lowwater-absorbing and self-elongating property is preferably constituted,are selected from polyester fibers.

In the woven or knitted fabric of the present invention containing twodifferent types of yarns, when the fabric is subjected to a measurementof change in yarn gap area of the fabric in such a manner that aplurality of test pieces of the woven or knitted fabric are left tostand in the air atmosphere having a temperature at 20° C. and arelative humidity at 65% for 24 hours to prepare a plurality of dry testpieces, and separately a plurality of another test pieces of said wovenor knitted fabric are immersed in water at a temperature at 20° C. for 5minutes, then taken out from water, and sandwiched between a pair offilter papers under the pressure of 490 N/m² for one minute to removewater existing in the interstices between fibers in the test pieces toprepare a plurality of wet test pieces, the surfaces of each of the dryand wet test pieces are observed by an optical microscope at amagnification of 20 and the opening areas of the dry and wetted testpieces are measured in accordance with the following equation:Opening area (%)=[(total area of openings formed betweenyarns)/(observed area)]×100then, a mean value of the measured opening areas of each of the dry andwetted test piece and a change between the mean opening area of thewetted test pieces and the mean opening area of the dry test pieces wascalculated in accordance with the following equation:Change in opening area (%)=[(mean opening area of wetted testpieces)−(mean opening area of dry test pieces)]/(mean opening area ofdry test pieces)×100,the resultant change in the opening area is preferably at least 10%.

In the woven or knitted fabric of the present invention containing twodifferent types of yarn, preferably, when a plurality of test pieces ofthe woven or knitted fabric are left to stand in the air atmospherehaving a temperature of 20° C. and a relative humidity of 65% for 24hours to prepare a plurality of dry test pieces, and separately aplurality of other test pieces of the woven or knitted fabric areimmersed in water at a temperature of 20° C. for 5 minutes, taken outfrom water, and sandwiched between a pair of filter papers under thepressure of 490 N/m² for one minute to remove water existing in theinterstices between fibers in the test piece to prepare a plurality ofwet test pieces, air-permeabilities of the dry and wetted test piecesare measured in accordance with JIS L 1096-1998, 6.27.1, Method A(Frazir type method), and a mean air-permeability of the dry test piecesand a mean air-permeability of the wet test pieces are calculated fromthe measurement data, and the change in air-permeability is calculatedin accordance to the following equation:Change in air-permeability=[(mean air-permeability of wetted testpieces)−(mean air-permeability of dry test pieces)]/(meanair-permeability of dry test pieces)×100,the resultant change in air-permeability is 30% or more.

The woven or knitted fabric of the present invention containing twodifferent types of yarns preferably has a change in roughness of atleast 5%; determined in such a manner that a plurality of test pieces ofthe woven or knitted fabric are left to stand in the air atmosphere at atemperature of 20° C. at a relative humidity of 65% for 24 hours toprepare a plurality of dry test pieces, and separately a plurality ofother test pieces of the woven or knitted fabric are immersed in waterat a temperature of 20° C. for 5 minutes, are taken out from water, andthen are sandwiched between a pair of filter papers under the pressureof 490 N/m² for one minute to remove water existing in the intersticesbetween fibers in the test pieces to prepare a plurality of wet testpieces, thickness (H1) of convex portions and thickness (H2) of concavepotions formed in the woven or knitted fabric structure of each dry andwetted test pieces are measured, a roughness of each of the dry andwetted test pieces is calculated in accordance with the followingequation:Roughness (%)=(thickness H1 of convex portion)−thickness H2 of concaveportion)/(thickness H2 of concave portion)×100wherein the thickness H1 of the convex portion is a mean thickness of aconvex portion having an area of 1 mm×1 mm and the thickness H2 of theconcave portion is a mean thickness of the concave portion located in anapproximately center part between two convex portions adjacent to theconcave portion in the warp or course direction thereof, and the changein roughness is calculated in accordance with the following equation:Change in roughness=[(roughness of wetted test piece)−(roughness of drytest piece)]/100,

The woven or knitted fabric of the present invention containing twodifferent types of yarns may have a woven fabric structure in whichstructure a group (W₍₁₎) consisting of a plurality of warp yarns, eachformed solely from the yarns (2) having a low water-absorbing,self-elongating property and a group (W₍₁₊₂₎) consisting of a pluralityof warp yarns, each formed of a composite yarn or a paralleled yarnformed from the yarns (1) having a high water-absorbing, self-elongatingproperty and the yarns (2) having a low water-absorbing, self-elongatingproperty, are alternately arranged with each other and the warp yarngroups intersect a group (F₍₁₎) consisting of a plurality of weft yarns,each formed solely from the yarns (2) having a low water-absorbing,self-elongating property, and a group (F₍₁₊₂₎) consisting of a pluralityof weft yarns, each formed from composite yarns formed from the yarns(1) having a high water-absorbing, self-elongating property and theyarns (2) having a low water-absorbing, self-elongating property,whereby a plurality of regions having a high water-absorbing,self-elongating property and formed by the intersection of the warpgroup (W₍₁₊₂₎₎) and the weft group (F₍₁₊₂₎), are arranged with spacesfrom each other both in the warp and weft directions, in the form ofislands in sea.

The woven or knitted fabric of the present invention containing twodifferent types of yarns may have a double knitted structure comprisinga cylinder side knitted layer and a dial side knitted layer tucked fromeither one of said layers to the other, wherein the cylinder sideknitted layer is formed from the yarn (2) having a low water-absorbing,self-elongating property, and in the dial side knitted layer, regionscomposed solely of the yarn (2) having a low water-absorbing,self-elongating property and regions composed of composite yarns, eachformed of the yarn (1) having a high water-absorbing, self-elongatingproperty and the said yarn (2) having a low water-absorbing,self-elongating property, are arranged alternately with each other inthe course direction and/or the wale direction.

The woven or knitted fabric of the present invention containing twodifferent types of yarns may have a triply knitted structure comprisinga cylinder side knitted layer, a dial side knitted layer and anintermediate knitted layer disposed between the above-mentioned twolayers; in every adjacent two layers of the three knitted layers, eitherone of the two layers being touched from the other, wherein theintermediate knitted layer is formed solely of the yarns (2) having alow water-absorbing, self-elongating property, and in each of said dialside and cylinder side knitted layers, regions composed solely of theyarns (2) having a low water-absorbing, self-elongating property andregions composed of composite yarns, each formed of the yarn (1) havinga high water-absorbing, self-elongating property and the yarn (2) havinga low water-absorbing, self-elongating property, are alternatelyarranged with each other in the course direction and/or the waledirection.

The woven or knitted fabric of the present invention containing twodifferent types of yarns may have a knitted fabric structure formed fromof the two types of yarns (1) and (2), wherein the knitted fabricstructure has a yarn density satisfying the following equation:Co×We≧2,000wherein Co represent the number of courses per 2.54 cm in the transversedirection of said knitted fabric, and We represent the number of walesper 2.54 cm in the longitudinal direction of said knitted fabric.

In the woven or knitted fabric of the present invention containing twodifferent yarns, one surface of said woven or knitted fabric may beraised by the raising treatment.

The woven or knitted fabric of the present invention containing twodifferent types of yarns preferably has an air-permeability of 50ml/cm².sec or less, determined in accordance with JIS L 1096-1998,6.27.1, Method A (Frazir type method), in the air atmosphere having atemperature of 20° C. and a relative humidity of 65%.

The woven or knitted fabric of the present invention containing twodifferent types of yarns may have a woven fabric structure in which oneof warp and weft of the fabric is formed from composite or paralleledyarns, each formed from at least one yarn having a high water-absorbing,self-elongating property and at least one yarn having a lowwater-absorbing, self-elongating property, and the other one of warp andweft is formed from the yarns having a low water-absorbing,self-elongating property, and further exhibiting a cover factor in arange of from 1,800 to 2,800.

In the woven or knitted fabric of the present invention containing twodifferent types of yarns, the said composite yarn preferably comprises acore portion formed from at least one yarn having a highwater-absorbing, self-elongating property and a sheath portionsurrounding around the core portion and formed from a plurality of yarnshaving a low water-absorbing, self-elongating property.

The clothing of the present invention comprises the woven or knittedfabric containing two different types of yarns as mentioned above, andcapable of increasing the air-permeability thereof upon absorbing water.

In the clothing of the present invention, at least one portion of saidclothing, selected from an armhole, a side, a bust, a back and ashoulder, is preferably formed from the woven or knitted fabriccontaining two different yarns.

The clothing of the present invention may be selected from underwear.

The clothing of the present invention may be selected from sportswear.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In FIG. 1, FIG. 1-(A) shows an explanatory plane view of a circularknitting structure (loop structure) in dry state, formed from paralleledyarns constituted from two types of yarns different from each other, asan embodiment of the woven or knitted fabric containing two differenttypes of yarns of the present invention, and FIG. 1-(B) shows anexplanatory plane view of the circular knitting structure formed fromthe paralleled yarns as shown in FIG. 1-(A), upon wetting with water;

In FIG. 2, FIG. 2-(A) shows an explanatory plane view of a plain weavestructure in dry state, formed from paralleled yarns constituted fromtwo types of yarns different from each other, as another embodiment ofthe woven or knitted fabric containing two different types of yarns ofthe present invention, and FIG. 2-(B) shows an explanatory plane view ofthe plain weave structure formed from the paralleled yarns as shown inFIG. 2-(A) upon wetting with water;

In FIG. 3, FIG. 3-(A) shows an explanatory plane view of a circularknitting structure (loop structure) in dry state, formed from two typesof yarns different from each other, arranged alternately with eachother, as another embodiment of the woven or knitted fabric containingtwo different types of yarns of the present invention, and FIG. 3-(B)shows an explanatory plane view of the circular knitting structure asshown in FIG. 3-(A) upon wetting with water;

In FIG. 4, FIG. 4-(A) shows an explanatory plane view of a plain weavestructure in dry state, formed from two different types of yarns used aswarp and weft yarns, as another embodiment of the woven or knittedfabric containing two different types of yarns of the present invention,and FIG. 4-(B) shows an explanatory plane view of the plain weavestructure as shown in FIG. 1-(A) upon wetting with water;

FIG. 5 shows an explanatory plane view of a woven or knitted fabricstructure in which a plurality of regions having a largest increase inopening area upon wetting with water are located in the form of aplurality of islands arranged away from each other in a sea, as anotherembodiment of the woven or knitted fabric of the present inventioncomprising two different types of yarns;

In FIG. 6, FIG. 6-(A) shows an explanatory cross-sectional view of awoven or knitted fabric having a single ply structure in dry state, asan embodiment of weave or knit structure of the woven or knitted fabricof the present invention containing two different types of yarns, andFIG. 6-(B) shows an explanatory cross-sectional view of the woven orknitted structure as shown in FIG. 6-(A), upon being wetted with water;

In FIG. 7, FIG. 7-(A) shows an explanatory cross-sectional view of awoven or knitted fabric having a two ply structure in dry state, as anembodiment of the weave and knit structure of the woven or knittedfabric of the present invention containing two different types of yarns,and FIG. 7-(B) shows an explanatory cross-sectional view of the woven orknitted fabric as shown in FIG. 7-(A), upon being wetted with water;

FIG. 8 illustrate a knitting structure of a knitted fabric having a twoply knitting structure, as an embodiment of the woven or knitted fabricof the present invention comprising two different types of yarns asshown in FIG. 5;

In FIG. 9, FIG. 9-(A) shows an explanatory plane view of a plain weavestructure of a woven fabric, as another embodiment of the woven orknitted fabric of the present invention containing two different typesof yarns in dry state, and FIG. 9-(B) shows an explanatory plane view ofthe plain weave structure as shown in FIG. 9-(A), upon being wetted withwater;

FIG. 10 shows an explanatory front view of an embodiment of clothingcomprising the woven or knitted fabric of the present inventioncontaining two different types of yarns;

FIG. 11 shows an explanatory front view of another embodiment ofclothing comprising the woven or knitted fabric of the present inventioncontaining two different types of yarns;

FIG. 13 shows an explanatory back view of another embodiment of clothingcomprising the woven or knitted fabric of the present inventioncontaining two different types of yarns;

FIG. 12 shows an explanatory front view of another embodiment ofclothing comprising the woven or knitted fabric of the present inventioncontaining two different types of yarns; and

FIG. 14 shows an explanatory front view of another embodiment ofclothing comprising the woven or knitted fabric of the present inventioncontaining two different types of yarns.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The woven or knitted fabric of the present invention containing twodifferent types of yarns is a fabric containing two types of yarnsdifferent from each other in self-elongating property upon absorbingwater.

When the woven or knitted fabric is stabilized in dimension in the airatmosphere having a temperature at 20° C. and a relative humidity at65%, and then cut into test pieces of 30 cm long in the warp or waledirection and 30 cm long in the weft or course direction, the yarns (1)having a high water-absorbing and self-elongating property and yarns (2)having a low water-absorbing and self-elongating property contained inthe fabric pieces satisfy the following equation:A/B≦0.9wherein A represents a mean length of the yarns (1) having highwater-absorbent and self-elongative property and B represents a meanlength of said yarns (2) having low water-absorbing and self-elongatingproperty, the yarns (1) and (2) being arranged in the same direction aseach other in the test piece and picked up from the test piece; thelength of the respective yarn being measured under a load of 1.76mN/dtex when the yarn is a non-elastic yarn having an elongation atbreak of 200% or less or under a load of 0.0088 mN/dtex when the yarn isan elastic yarn having an elongation at break higher than 200%, andwhereby the resultant woven or knitted fabric exhibits such a specificperformance that when the woven or knitted fabric is wetted with waterand absorbs water, the opening area of the fabric increases and thus theair permeability of the fabric increases and when the fabric is dried,the opening area of the fabric decreases and thus the air permeabilityof the fabric decreases. The number (n) of the test pieces of yarns forthe measurement of the mean length of the yarns is preferably 5 to 20.

In the woven or knitted fabric of the present invention, the ratio A/Bin the mean length of the yarn (1) having a high water-absorbing andself-elongating property to that of the yarn (2) having a lowwater-absorbing and self-elongating property is 0.9 or less as describedabove, preferably in a range from 0.2 to 0.9 as mentioned above, morepreferably from 0.3 to 0.8. If the ratio A/B exceeds 0.9, the change inair-permeability of the woven or knitted fabric between the dry stateand the wet state becomes insufficient.

The high water-absorbing and self-elongating yarns may be formed fromeither elastic fibers or non-elastic fibers preferably if they exhibitelastic stretchability and shrinkability. The elastic yarn constitutedfrom the elastic fibers preferably has an elongation at break higherthan 200%. On the other hand, while there is no limitation in theelongation at break of the yarn formed from the non-elastic fibers, itis preferably 200% or less.

In the woven or knitted fabric of the present invention containing twodifferent types of yarns, the yarns (1) and (2) different in thewater-absorbing and self-elongating property from each other preferablysatisfy the following condition:

When the two types of yarns (1) and (2) different in thewater-absorbing, self-elongating property are respectively subjected toa measurement of self-elongation upon absorbing water in such a mannerthat each of the yarns is wound 10 times around a reel for hank having acircumference of 1.125 m long under a load of 0.88 mN/dtex to form ahank; the hank is removed from the reel and left to stand in the airatmosphere having a temperature at 20° C. and a relative humidity at 65%for 24 hours to dry the hank; then the length (Ld, m) of the dry hank ismeasured under a load of 1.76 mN/dtex when the yarn is a non-elasticyarn having an elongation at break of 200% or less, or under a load of0.0088 mN/dtex when the yarn is an elastic yarn having an elongation atbreak higher than 200%; the hank is immersed in water at a temperatureat 20° C. for 5 minutes; then the hank is taken out from water; a length(Lw, m) of the wet hank is measured under the same load as describedabove in response to the elongation at break of the hank; and theself-elongation of each yarn is calculated in accordance with thefollowing equation:Self-elongation of yarn (%)=[(LW−Ld)/(Ld)]×100,preferably one (1) of the two type of yarns is a high water-absorbingand self-elongating yarn having a mean self-elongation of +5% or moreand the other (2) is a low water-absorbing and self-elongating yarnhaving a mean self-elongation lower than +5%. More preferably, the meanself-elongation of the yarn (1) is +6% or more, and the meanself-elongation of the yarn (2) is +4% or less. Still more preferably,the yarns (1) and (2) have a mean self-elongations of +8 to +30% and 0to +3%, respectively. The number (n) of the test pieces for theabove-mentioned measurement is preferably 5 to 20.

The difference (E₍₁₎−E₍₂₎) between the self-elongation (E₍₁₎) uponabsorbing water of the yarn (1) and the self-elongation (E₍₂₎) uponabsorbing water of the yarn (2) is preferably in a range of from 5 to40%, more preferably 7 to 30%, still more preferably 10 to 30%. If theself-elongation difference (E₍₁₎−E₍₂₎) is less than 5%, the differencein the opening area of the woven or knitted fabric containing twodifferent types of yarns between a dry condition and a wetted conditionmay become insufficient and thereby cause the air-permeability of thefabric upon absorbing water and being wetted with water to beinsufficient. Contrarily, if the difference exceeds 40%, theair-permeability may become excessively high in the wetted state withwater or excessively small in the dry state.

In the woven or knitted fabric of the present invention, a ratio in massof the yarn (1) having a high water-absorbing and self-elongatingproperty to the yarn (2) having a low water-absorbing andself-elongating property is preferably, in the woven fabric, in a rangefrom 10:90 to 70:30, more preferably from 15:85 to 50:50, whilepreferably, in the knitted fabric, in a range from 10:90 to 60:40, morepreferably from 20:80 to 50:50.

In one embodiment of the woven or knitted fabric of the presentinvention containing two different types of yarns, the fabric is in aknitted fabric structure, for example, a circular knitting structurewherein the two types of yarns (1) and (2) are combined with each otherand used as paralleled yarns.

As shown in FIG. 1 (FIGS. 1-(A) and 1-(B), the two types of yarns (1)and (2) are paralleled to each other in a dry state. In this case, theyarn (1)1 having a high water-absorbing and self-elongating property ismechanically stretched (drafted) and then paralleled to the yarn (2)2having a low water-absorbing and self-elongating property to form aparalleled yarn, and the resultant paralleled yarn is subjected to theknitting process. After the knitting process, when a tension applied tothe dry yarn (1)1 is released, the yarn (1)1 shrinks. However, the yarn(2)2 having a low water-absorbing and self-elongating propertysubstantially does not shrink. In the resultant knitted fabricstructure, as a ratio A/B of the mean length A of the yarn (1)1 to themean length B of the yarn (2)2 is controlled to 0.9 or less, the longeryarn (2)2 is entangled around the yarn (1)1 and, thereby, an apparentthickness of the paralleled yarn increases. A ratio in area of openings3 to a total surface area of the knitted fabric; that is, a opening area(percentage); is relatively low at that time. If the dry knitted fabricshown in FIG. 1-(A) absorbs water to be in a wetted state, the yarn (1)1absorbs water and elongates itself as shown in FIG. 1-(B). Accompaniedtherewith, the yarn (2)2 becomes generally in a tensed state, andwhereby the apparent thickness of the paralleled yarn becomes smallerand the gap area percentage of the wetted fabric shown in FIG. 1-(B)becomes larger than that of the dry fabric shown in FIG. 1-(A) tofacilitate the air-permeability.

In another embodiment of the woven or knitted fabric of the presentinvention containing two different types of yarns, the fabric has awoven fabric structure, for example a plain weave structure wherein warpand weft yarns are respectively constituted by paralleled yarnsconstituted from the yarn (1)1 having a high water-absorbing andself-elongating property and the yarn (2)2 having a low water-absorbingand self-elongating property. If such paralleled yarns are used as warpand weft to form a woven fabric, the yarn (1)1 having a highwater-absorbing and self-elongating property is paralleled in a drystate while being mechanically stretched under, a tension in a drystate, with the yarn (2)2 and the resultant paralleled yarn is subjectedto the weaving procedure. After completing the weaving procedure, thetension is released and thus the yarn (1)1 mechanically shrinks, whilethe yarn (2)2 substantially does not shrink. Since the ratio A/B of themean length A of the yarn (1)1 to the mean length of the yarn (2)2 iscontrolled to be 0.9 or less in the resultant woven structure, thelonger yarn (2)2 is crimped around the shorter yarn (1)1 as shown inFIG. 2A, whereby an apparent thickness of the paralleled yarn increases.As a result, the opening area of the resultant woven fabric isrelatively low in a dry state. When the woven fabric absorbs water to awetted state, the yarn (1)1 absorbs water and elongates itself as shownin FIG. 2B, while the yarn (2)2 is in a tensed state while beingaccompanied therewith, and whereby the opening area of the wetted fabricbecomes higher than the opening area of the dry fabric to facilitate theair-permeability. Methods for weaving and knitting the fabrics shown inFIGS. 1 and 2 by using the paralleled yarns constituted from the yarns(1) and (2) will be further described hereinafter.

In the woven or knitted fabric of the present invention containing twodifferent types of yarns, the change in the yarn gap area of the fabricbetween the dry state and the wet state is obtained by the followingmeasurement.

A woven or knitted fabric to be tested is subjected to a measurement ofchange in opening area of the fabric in such a manner that a pluralityof test pieces of the woven or knitted fabric are left to stand in theair atmosphere having a temperature at 20° C. and a relative humidity at65% for 24 hours to prepare a plurality of dry test pieces and,separately, a plurality of other test pieces of said woven or knittedfabric are immersed in water at a temperature at 20° C. for 5 minutes,then taken out from water, and sandwiched between a pair of filterpapers under the pressure of 490 N/m² for one minute to remove waterexisting in the interstices between fibers in the test pieces to preparea plurality of wet test pieces, surfaces of each of the dry and wet testpieces are observed by an optical microscope at a magnification of 20and the yarn gap areas of the dry and wetted test pieces are measured inaccordance with the following equation:opening area (%)=[(total area of openings between yarns)/(observedarea)]×100then, a mean value of the measured opening areas of each of the dry andwetted test piece and a change in mean opening area between the wettedtest pieces and the dry test pieces was calculated in accordance withthe following equation:Change in opening area (%)=[(mean opening area of wetted testpieces)−(mean opening area of dry test pieces)]/(mean opening area ofdry test pieces)×100.

The number n of the test pieces for the above-mentioned measurement ispreferably 5 to 20.

The change in opening area of the woven or knitted fabric of the presentinvention containing the two different types of yarns between the drystate and the wetted state is preferably at least 10%, more preferably20% or more, still more preferably 50 to 200%. If the change in openingarea is less than 10%, there might be a case wherein theair-permeability of the fabric in the wet state is insufficient.

The mean air-permeability of the woven or knitted fabric of the presentinvention containing two different types of yarns and the change inair-permeability of the fabric between the dry and wet states can bemeasured in the following manner.

Test pieces of the woven or knitted fabric are left to stand in the airatmosphere having a temperature of 20° C. and a relative humidity of 65%for 24 hours to prepare a plurality of dry test pieces and, separately,a plurality of other test pieces of the woven or knitted fabric areimmersed in water at a temperature of 20° C. for 5 minutes, taken outfrom water, and sandwiched between a pair of filter papers under thepressure of 490 N/m² for one minute to remove water existing in theinterstices between fibers in the test piece to prepare a plurality ofwet test pieces, air-permeabilities of the dry and wetted test piecesare measured in accordance with JIS L 1096-1998, 6.27.1, Method A(Frazir type method), and a mean air-permeability of the dry test piecesand a mean air-permeability of the wet test pieces are calculated fromthe measurement data, and the change in air-permeability is calculatedin accordance to the following equation:Change in air-permeability=[(mean air-permeability of wetted testpieces)−(mean air-permeability of dry test pieces)]/(meanair-permeability of dry test pieces)×100.

In the woven or knitted fabric of the present invention containing twodifferent types of yarns, the change in air-permeability is preferably30% or more, more preferably 40% or more, further more preferably in arange from 50 to 300%. The number n of test pieces is preferably in arange from 5 to 20.

The air-permeability of the woven or knitted fabric of the presentinvention containing two different types of yarns is preferably 50ml/cm².sec or less, more preferably 5 to 48 ml/cm².sec, measured in adry state, particularly in an atmosphere having a temperature at 20° C.and a relative humidity at 65%, in accordance with JIS L 1096-1998,6.27.1, Method A (Frazir type method). The dry fabric having theabove-mentioned air-permeability can exhibit a practically sufficientwind-shielding property.

In the woven or knitted fabric of the present invention containing twodifferent types of yarns, fibers usable for the yarn (1) having a highwater-absorbing and self-elongating property are preferably selectedfrom, for example, polyether-ester fibers formed from polyether esterelastomer containing hard segments comprising polybutylene terephthalateblocks and soft segments comprising polyoxyethylene glycol blocks, butare not necessarily limited thereto.

The other fibers for the yarn (1) are, for example, polyester fibersconsisting of a polyester composition comprising a polyester polymerblended with a polyacrylate metal salt, polyacrylic acid or a copolymerthereof, polymethacrylate or a copolymer thereof, polyvinyl alcohol or acopolymer thereof, polyacrylamide or a copolymer thereof,polyoxyethylene polymer or another, or polyester fibers containingcopolymerized 5-sulfoisophthalate. Among them, the polyether esterfibers, which are formed from a polyether ester elastomer comprisinghard segments formed from polybutylene terephthalate blocks and softsegments formed from polyoxyethylene glycol blocks, are preferably used.

The polybutylene terephthalate used for the hard segments preferablycontains butylene terephthalate units of 70 mol % or more. The contentof the butylene terephthalate segments is preferably 80 mol % or more,more preferably 90 mol % or more. An acid component for the polymer forconstituting the hard segments contains mainly terephthalic acid whichmay be copolymerized with a small amount of other dicarboxylic acidcomponent, and the glycol component mainly comprises tetramethyleneglycol which may be copolymerized with other glycol component.

The dicarboxylic acid component other than terephthalic acid used forforming the polymer for the hard segments is selected from, for example,aromatic or aliphatic dicarboxylic acid components such as naphthalenedicarboxylic acid, isophthalic acid, diphenyl dicarboxylic acid,diphenylxyethane dicarboxylic acid, β-hydroxyethoxy benzoic acid,p-oxybenzoic acid, adipic acid, sebacic acid, 1,4-cyclohexanedicarboxylic acid. Further, trifunctional polycarboxylic acid or moresuch as trimellitic acid or pyromellitic acid may be used as a copolymercomponent within a range wherein the achievement of the object of thepresent invention is not disturbed.

The diol component other than tetramethylene glycol used for forming thepolymer for the hard segments is selected from, for example, aliphatic,alicyclic or aromatic diol compounds such as trimethylene glycol,ethylene glycol, cyclohexane-1,4-dimethanol or neopentyl glycol. Also,tri- or more-functional polyol such as glycerin, trimethyrol propane orpentaerythritol may be used as a copolymer component within a rangewherein the achievement of the object of the present invention is notdisturbed.

Also, polyoxyethylene glycol for forming the soft segments preferablycontains oxyethylene glycol units in a content of 70 mol % or more. Thecontent of oxyethylene glycol is more preferably 80 mol % or more,further more preferably 90 mol % or more. Propylene glycol,tetramethylene glycol or glycerin may be copolymerized in addition tothe oxyethylene glycol, within a range wherein the achievement of theobject of the present invention is not disturbed.

The number-average molecular weight of polyoxyethylene glycol for thesoft segment is preferably in a range from 400 to 8,000, more preferablyfrom 1,000 to 6,000.

The above-mentioned polyether-ester elastomer can be produced, forexample, by a transesterificaiton reaction of dimethyl phthalate with amaterial containing tetramethylene glycol and polyoxyethylene glycol inthe presence of a transesterificaiton catalyst to preparebis(ω-hydroxybutyl) terephthalate monomer and/or oligomer, and then themonomer and/or oligomer is subjected to a melt-polycondensation reactionin the presence of a polycondensation catalyst and a stabilizer at ahigh temperature and under a reduced pressure.

A ratio by mass of the hard segments to the soft segments in thepolyether-ester elastomer as mentioned above is preferably in a rangefrom 30/70 to 70/30.

When a metal salt of an organic sulfonic acid is copolymerized withpolyetherester polymer for the yarn (1), the water-absorbing andself-elongating property of the elastomer is further enhanced.

The polyether-ester fiber for the yarn (1) is produced by melting andextruding the above-mentioned polyetherester in and through aconventional melt-spinning spinneret, then is taken up at a take-upspeed in a range from 300 to 1200 m/min (preferably from 400 to 980m/min) and wound at a draft of 1.0 to 1.2 times (preferably 1.0 to 1.1times) the take-up speed.

Fibers constituting the yarn (2) having a low water-absorbing andself-elongating property used for the woven or knitted fabric of thepresent invention containing two different types of yarns includenatural fibers such as cotton or hemp fibers, cellulose chemical fiberssuch as rayon or cellulose acetate fibers, and synthetic fibers such aspolyester fibers, typically polyethylene terephthalate andpolytrimethylene terephthalate fiber, polyamide polyacrylonitrile andpolypropylene fibers. Among them, conventional (non-elastic) polyesterfibers are preferably used.

The fibers, from which the yarns (1) and (2) used for the woven orknitted fabric of the present invention are constituted, optionallycontain one or more types of inorganic particles, for example, adelusterant (titanium dioxide), a micro-void forming agent (a metal saltof an organic sulfonic acid), a coloration-preventing agent, a heatstabilizer, a flame retardant (diantimony trioxide), a fluorescentbrightener, a coloring pigment, an anti-static agent (metal salts ofsulfonic acids), a hygroscopic agent (polyoxyalkylene glycol), ananti-fungus agent and others.

There is no limitation to a type of the fibers from which the yarn (1)and (2) are constituted; that is, the fibers may be eithermultifilaments or staple fibers. However, for the purpose of obtaining asoft touch, the multifilaments are preferably employed.

There is no limitation to the form of the yarn (1) and (2); that is, theyarns may be either spun yarns of staple fibers or multifilament yarns.Also, there is no limitation to a cross-sectional profile of the fibers;that is, the profile may be any of conventional profiles including acircular, a triangular, a flat, a cross-shaped, a hexalobal and a hollowprofile. Also, there is no limitation to total yarn thickness,individual fiber thickness, and the number of filaments, the total yarnthickness is preferably in a range from 30 to 300 dtex, the individualfiber thickness is preferably in a range from 0.1 to 10 dtex, morepreferably from 0.6 to 3 dtex, and the number of filaments is preferablyin a range from 1 to 300, more preferably from 20 to 150 per yarn, inview of the hand and/or the productivity of the fabric.

The ratio by mass of the yarn (1) to the yarn (2), from which the wovenor knitted fabric of the present invention is constituted, is preferablyin a range from 10:90 to 60:40, more preferably from 20:80 to 50:50, forthe purpose of effectively improving the yarn gap area percentage in awetted state which purpose is a main object of the present invention.

There is no limitation to the structure of the woven or knitted fabricof the present invention of which the air-permeability is notfacilitated even in the wetted state. For example, the weave structurefor the woven fabric includes three basic weave structures, that is,plain, twill weave and satin weave structures modifications thereof forexample, modified twill weave structures, warp or weft two-ply weavessuch as warp backed two-ply weave and weft backed two-ply weavestructures, and a warp velvet. The knitting structure of the knittedfabric may be either a weft knitting or warp knitting structure.Preferably, the weft knitting structures preferably include plain, ribstitch, interlock, garter, tuck, float, half cardigan, lace and platedknitting structures, and the warp knitting structures preferably includesingle tricot, single atlas, double cord, half tricot, fleecy,jacquard-knitting structures, etc.

In another embodiment of the woven or knitted fabric of the presentinvention containing two different types of yarns, the composite yarnsor paralleled yarns consisting of the two types of yarns (1) and (2) andthe yarns (2) are alternately arranged with every one yarn in the weavestructure at least one of the weft and warp directions or in theknitting structure at least one direction selected from wale and coursedirections, respectively. A ratio in the number of yarns of thecomposite yarn or the paralleled yarns of the yarns (1) and (2) to thatof the yarn (2) in each yarn direction may be 1:1, or 1:(1 to 5), or2:1, or 2:(2 to 5), or 3:1, or 3:(2 to 5), or 3:(4 or 5) or 3:(1 to 5).

In the knitting structure shown in FIG. 3, (FIG. 3-(A) and FIG. 3-(B))the yarn (1)1 having a high water-absorbing and self-elongating propertyand the yarn (2)2 having a low water-absorbing and self-elongatingproperty are alternately arranged with every one yarn in the waledirection in the dry state to form a knitting structure as shown in FIG.3-(A). When this fabric is wetted by absorbing water, the yarn (1)1absorbs water and elongates to form a knitting structure as shown FIG.3-(B), whereby the opening area of the wetted fabric increases more thanthat of the dry fabric and thus the air-permeability thereof increases.

A further embodiment of the woven or knitted fabric containing twodifferent types of yarns as shown in FIG. 4 (FIG. 4-(A) and FIG. 4-(B))has a weave structure wherein the yarn (1)1 and the yarn (2)2 arealternately arranged with every one yarn both in the warp and weftdirections. During the weaving procedure, the yarn (1)1 is stretched tobe longer than the yarn (2)2 under tension applied to the warp and weftyarns in a dry state. When the tension is released after the completionof the weaving process, the yarn (1)1 shrinks more than the yarn (1)2whereby a length of the yarn (2)2 becomes longer than that of the yarn(1)1 in the fabric. That is, as shown in FIG. 4-(A), the yarn (2)2 iscompressed to be crimped, and to increase an apparent thickness of theyarn (2), whereby the opening area of the fabric becomes relativelysmall. When this dry fabric is wetted with water, the yarn (1)1 absorbswater and elongates, and the yarn (2) becomes in a generally tense stateto increase the opening area percentage and facilitate theair-permeability thereof.

In the woven or knitted fabric of the present invention containing twodifferent types of yarns, the yarn (1) having a high water-absorbing andself-elongating property and the yarn (2) having a low water-absorbingand self-elongating property may be combined to form a composite yarnsuch as a combined filament yarn, a composite false twist-textured yarn,a combined and twisted yarn or a covering yarn.

To create the difference in yarn length between the yarns (1) and (2) inthe woven fabric as shown in, for example, FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, thefollowing weaving methods (1), (2) and (3) are used.

Weaving or Knitting Method (1) for Fabric Having a Difference in YarnLength

The polyetherester fibers having a high stretch modulus of elongation asmentioned hereinbefore are used for the yarns (1), the yarns (1) aredoubled with the yarns (2) while being drafted (stretched) to form aparalleled yarn, the resultant paralleled yarns are then fed to a yarnfeeder for the weaving or knitting procedure. At that time, a draftratio of the polyetherester fiber yarn (1) is preferably 10% or more,more preferably in a range from 20 to 300%. The draft ratio of the highstretch modulus yarn is calculated in accordance with the followingequation:Draft ratio (%)=[(yarn take-up speed−yarn feeding speed)]/(yarn feedingspeed)×100

As the polyetherester fibers have a high stretch modulus, thepolyetherester fibers (1) are elastically stretched under a tensionapplied thereto, and when the tension is released after the weaving orknitting procedure, the yarns (1) elastically shrinks to reduce itslength. When other yarns (2) are used together with the yarns (1) in theweaving or knitting procedure, in the resultant fabric, a difference inyarn length is created between the yarns (1) and (2).

Weaving or Knitting Method (2) for a Fabric Having a Difference in YarnLength

When a woven or knitted fabric containing two different types of yarnsis woven or knitted from the yarns (1) and (2), for the yarns (1), yarnshaving a higher boiling water shrinkage than that of the yarns (2) areemployed. When the fabric containing these yarns (1) and (2) issubjected to the conventional dyeing process, the yarn (2) more largelyshrinks than the yarn (1) and a fabric having a difference in yarnlength between the yarns (1) and (2) is obtained.

Weaving or Knitting Method (3) for a Fabric Having a Difference in YarnLength

When the yarns (1) and (2) are combined with each other to formparalleled yarns, the yarns (2) are overfed and paralleled to the yarns(1). The resultant paralleled yarns are subjected to an airfilament-combining procedure, a twisting procedure or a coveringprocedure to provide composite yarns. In the resultant composite yarns,there is a difference in yarn length between the yarns (1) and (2); thatis, the yarns (2) are longer than the yarns (1). A desired fabric iswoven or knitted from the paralleled yarns.

As shown in FIG. 5, in the woven or knitted fabric 10 of the presentinvention containing two different types of yarns, a plurality ofportions 11 having a high content of the yarn (1) elongating itself uponabsorbing water may be distributed separately from each other in acontinuous portion 12 having a low content of the yarn (1) in the formof islands-in-sea. Clothing made of such a fabric facilitates theair-permeability mainly in the portions 11 when wetted with water, andcreates an irregularity on a surface of the clothing, next to the skin,to reduce a contact area with the skin, whereby the discomfort due tosweating is minimized.

The woven or knitted fabric in which the portions 11 having a highcontent of the yarn (1) are distributed in an islands in sea form asdescribed above may have either a single ply structure or a two or moreply structure.

A woven or knitted fabric 10 shown in FIG. 6 (FIGS. 6-(A) and 6-(B) hasa single ply structure wherein regions 11 having a high content of theyarns (1) having a high water-absorbing and self-elongating property aredistributed in a region 12 having a low content of the yarns (1) in theform of islands in a sea. When this fabric is wetted by absorbing withwater, the yarns (1) in the regions 11 elongate itself due towater-absorption, whereby the regions 11 increase in the area (or thevolume) thereof more than that of the region 12 encircling the regions11 and bulge outside from either surface side of the fabric to formconvexities. Thereby, if a clothing made of the fabric shown in FIG.6-(A) is wetted with water, a plurality of convexities are formed on onesurface of the clothing (to be in contact with a skin) to reduce thecontact area of the back surface of the clothing with the skin tominimize the discomfort caused by wetting with sweat.

A cross-section of a woven or knitted fabric of the present inventioncontaining two types of yarns having a two ply structure is shown inFIG. 7 (FIGS. 7-(A) and 7-(B)). This fabric 10 has a front surface ply13 constituted from appropriate yarns and a back surface ply 14constituted from the woven or knitted fabric of the present inventioncontaining two types of yarns. In the back surface ply 14, a pluralityof regions 11 having a high content of the yarn (1) having a highwater-absorbing and self-elongating property are distributed in a region12 having a low content of the yarn (1) in the form of islands in a sea.In the fabric structure as shown in FIG. 7, the regions 11 having a highcontent of the yarn (1) are formed on the lower side of the back surfaceply, and in the regions 11, the front surface ply 13 is not tucked withthe back surface ply 14. The spaces 15 shown in FIGS. 7-(A) and 7-(B)indicate that the regions 11 in the back surface ply 14 are not tuckedwith the front surface ply 13. When this fabric of the two ply structureis wetted with water, the yarns (1) in the regions 11 absorb water andelongate, whereby the regions 11 bulge outside from the lower surface ofthe back surface ply 14 to form a plurality of convexities on the backsurface side of the fabric 10. While the operation and effect of theconvexities are the same as those in the fabric shown in FIG. 6, as theregions 11 on the back surface ply 14 are not tucked with the frontsurface ply 13 in the fabric shown in FIG. 7, the regions 11 of the backsurface ply of the fabric are bulge out.

While there is no limitation to the dimensions of each region 11, thedimensions are preferably (3 to 15 mm)×(3 to 15 mm). A gap between theadjacent regions 11 is preferably in a range from 2 to 15 mm both in thewarp (or wale) direction and the weft (or course) direction.

The fabric having the regions 11 having a high content of the yarn (2)and capable of elongating in the wet state is suitable for sportswear orunderwear which comes into contact with sweat when worn.

Thickness of the concave portions and convex portions formed in theweave or knit structure of the woven or knitted fabric of the presentinvention, the roughness of the fabric and the change in roughness dueto water absorption and wetting can be measured in the following manner.

A plurality of dry test pieces are prepared by leaving the woven orknitted fabric to be tested in air atmosphere having a temperature at20° C. and a relative humidity of 65% for 24 hours. Also, a plurality ofwet test pieces are prepared by dipping the same type of the fabric in awater having a temperature at 20° C. for 5 minutes, then sandwiching itbetween a pair of filter papers, after being taken out from water, toremove water existing in the interstices between fibers under theapplication of a pressure of 490 N/m² for 1 minute. Thicknesses ofconvexities and concavities formed in the woven or knitted structure ofthe dry and wet test pieces are measured, for example, by using a superhigh accuracy laser displacement meter (provided by Keyence (phonetic)Co.; Model LC-2400). Based thereon, the roughness is calculated inaccordance with the following equation:Roughness (%)=[(thickness H1 of convexities)−(thickness H2 ofconcavities)]/(thickness H2 of concavities)×100wherein H1 is a mean value of a thickness of convexities having an areaof 1 mm×1 mm, and H2 is a mean value of a thickness of concavitieshaving an area of 1 mm×1 mm and located between the adjacent twoconvexities in the warp or course direction.

Further the change in roughness is obtained in accordance with thefollowing equation:Change in roughness=[(roughness of wet test piece)−(roughness of drytest piece)]×100

The change in roughness is preferably at least 5%. The number n of themeasured test pieces is preferably in a range of from 5 to 20.

In the woven or knitted fabric of the present invention containing twodifferent types of yarns, particularly, in the fabric having the islandlike regions having a high content of the yarns (1) having a highwater-absorbing and self-elongating property and capable of formingconvexities upon absorbing water as shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, the change inroughness is preferably 5% or more, more preferably 7% or more, furtherpreferably in the range of from 7 to 100%.

Embodiments of the woven or knitted fabric of the present inventioncontaining two different types of yarns having the regions having a highcontent of the yarns (1) will be described hereinafter.

In one embodiment (1), the woven or knitted fabric of the presentinvention containing two different types of yarns containing twodifferent types of yarns has a woven fabric structure, wherein aplurality of warp yarns (W₍₁₎) consisting solely of the yarns (2) havinga low water-absorbing and self-elongating property and a plurality ofwarp yarns (W₍₁₊₂₎) consisting of composite or paralleled yarns formedfrom the yarn (1) having a high water-absorbing and self-elongatingproperty and the yarns (2) having a low water-absorbing andself-elongating property are alternately arranged with each other andintersect with a plurality of weft yarns (F₍₁₎) consisting solely of theyarns (2) having a low water-absorbing and self-elongating property anda plurality of weft yarns (F₍₁₊₂₎) consisting of the yarns (1) having ahigh water-absorbing and self-elongating property and composite yarns(1+2) formed from the yarn (1) having a high water-absorbing andself-elongating property and the yarns (2) having a low water-absorbingand self-elongating property, whereby a plurality of regions formed bythe intersection of the warp yarns (W₍₁₊₂₎) and the weft yarns (F₍₁₊₂₎),and having a high water-absorbing and self-elongating property, arearranged separately from each other in the warp and weft directions inthe form of islands in a sea.

In another embodiment (2), the woven or knitted fabric of the presentinvention containing two different types of yarns has a two ply knittingstructure including a cylinder side knit ply and a dial side knit ply,one of the two plies being tucked with the other ply, wherein thecylinder side knit ply is formed from the yarns (2) having a lowwater-absorbing and self-elongating property, and in the dial side knitply, a plurality of regions formed from only the yarns (2) having a lowwater absorbing and self-elongating property and a plurality of regionsformed from composite yarns constituted from the yarns (1) having a highwater-absorbing and self-elongating property and the yarns (2) having alow water-absorbing and self-elongating property are arrangedalternately with each other in the course and/or wale direction.

The embodiment (1) corresponds to the fabric shown in FIG. 6 (FIGS.6-(A) and 6-(B)), while the embodiment (2) corresponds to the fabricshown in FIG. 7 (FIGS. 7-(A) and 7-(B)).

In a further embodiment (3), the woven or knitted fabric of the presentinvention containing two different types of yarns has a three plyknitting structure consisting of a cylinder side knit ply, a dial-sideknit ply and an intermediate-knit ply interposed between both the formerknit layers, in which structure either one of the two adjacent knitplies is tucked with another knit ply. The intermediate knit plyconsists solely of the yarns (2) having a low water-absorbing andself-elongating property, and each of the dial side and cylinder sideknit plies has regions formed solely from the yarns (2) having a lowwater-absorbing and self-elongating property and regions formed ofcomposite yarns constituted from the yarns (1) having a highwater-absorbing and self-elongating property and the yarns (2) having alow water-absorbing and self-elongating property. Those regions arealternately arranged with each other in the course direction and/or thewale direction.

In FIG. 8, one example of the knitting structure for the woven orknitted fabric of the present invention containing two different typesof yarns corresponding to the above-mentioned embodiment (2) is shown.In this knitting structure, composite yarns (covered yarns) (a)consisting of core yarns formed from elastic polyether-estermultifilament yarns and sheath yarns formed from non-elastic polyestermultifilament yarns wound around the core yarns, that is, compositecovered yarns (a) formed from the yarns (1) and the yarns (2); andnon-elastic polyester multifilament yarn (b) are used. In this knittingstructure, through yarn feeders 1 to 15, the covered yarns (a) and yarn(b) are fed alternately with each other, and through feeders 16 to 24,the yarns (b) are solely fed. In the yarn feeders 1 to 15, the coveredyarns (a) are used to form the dial side knit ply and the yarn (b) isused to form the cylinder side knit ply, while in the yarn feeders 16 to24, the yarns (b) are used to form the dial and cylinder side knit plieswherein the dial side knit ply is tucked from the cylinder side knitply. Thereby, in the regions of the resultant knitted fabriccorresponding to the yarn feeders 1 to 15, the yarns (1) having a highwater-absorbing and self-elongating property are distributed in the dialknit ply with a higher content than that in the other regions.

Signals in FIG. 8 represent the following:

1 to 24: yarn feeders

C: a cylinder side

D: a dial side

a: a covered yarn formed from polyether-ester core yarns and polyestersheath yarns.

b: polyester yarn

O: a dial side knit

x: a cylinder side knit

¥: a cylinder side tuck

The woven or knitted fabric of the present invention is optionallysubjected to a dyeing and/or finishing treatment. The dyeing treatmentincludes both of a dip dyeing work and a printing work. The finishingtreatment may be applied to one or both surfaces of the fabric, andincludes various function-imparting treatments such as a water-repellenttreatment, an ultraviolet ray-shielding treatment, an anti-fungustreatment, a deodorization treatment, a moth-proofing treatment, alight-storage agent treatment, a retro-reflecting agent treatment, anegative ion generator treatment and others.

In the woven or knitted fabric of the present invention formed of twodifferent types of yarns, preferably the fabric has a knitted fabricstructure formed from the above-mentioned yarns (1) and (2), and theknitted fabric structure has a density satisfying the followingequation:Co×We≧2,000wherein Co represents the number of courses per 2.54 cm in thetransverse direction of the knitted fabric and Wo represents the numberof wales per 2.54 cm in the longitudinal direction of the fabric. Thevalue of Co×We is more preferably 2000 or more, further more preferablyin the range of from 4,000 to 10,000.

If the value of Co×We is less than 2000, the air-permeability of theresultant fabric in the dry state may insufficiently reduce todeteriorate the wind shield property. Contrarily, if the value of Co×Weis more than 10,000, the air-permeability of the resultant fabric in thewetted state may insufficiently increase.

There is no limitation to the knitting structure. For example, a warpknitting structure includes a half tricot structure, a satin structure,a plain tricot structure, a shark skin structure, a velvet structure, aqueens cord structure, etc. A circular knitting structure includes aplain structure, a tuck structure, an interlock structure, a ribstructure, a punch Rome structure, a milanese rib structure, etc. Amongthem, the half tricot and satin structures in the warp knittingstructure and the plain and interlock structures in the circularknitting structure are preferably used due to the good wind-shieldproperty. In this regard, there is no limitation to the number of pliesof the knitted fabric; that is, it may be either a single-ply or amultiple-ply structure.

When the knitted fabric of the present invention, for example, a warpknitted fabric, is manufactured, by using a warp knitting machine havingtwo or more reeds, for example, elastic polyetherester multifilamentyarns are fed, as yarns (1), to back reeds while drafting (drawing) andthe yarn (2) is fed to another reeds. In the resultant knitted fabric,the polyetherester multifilament yarns elastically recover (shrink) toshorten the length thereof, whereby a difference in length between theyarns (1) and (2) can be created.

When the knitted fabric of the present invention is manufactured, thevalue of Co is preferably 50 or more, more preferably in a range from 60to 120. Also, the value We is preferably 40 or more, more preferably ina range from 50 to 80.

When the fabric of the present invention containing two different typesof yarns has a weave structure comprising composite yarns or paralleledyarns consisting of at least one yarn (1) having a high water-absorbingand self-elongating property and at least one yarn (2) having a lowwater-absorbing and self-elongating property, which composite orparalleled yarns constitute either one of the warp and weft yarns, andthe yarns (2) having a low water-absorbing and self-elongating property,from which yarns (2), another ones of the warp and weft yarns areconstituted, a cover factor of the woven fabric is preferably in a rangeof from 1800 to 2800, more preferably from 2,300 to 2,700.

The cover factor CF is defined by the following equation:CF=(DWp/1.1)^(1/2) ×MWp+(DWf/1.1)^(1/2) ×MWfwherein DWp represents a total yarn thickness (dtex) of the warp yarns,MWp represents a weaving density (yarns/3.79 cm) of the warp yarns, DWfrepresents a total yarn thickness (dtex) of the weft yarns, and MWfrepresents a weaving density (yarns/3.79 cm) of the weft yarns.

There is no limitation to the number of the yarns (1) or (2) containedin the composite or paralleled yarns. Usually, the number of each of theyarns (1) and (2) may be one or more.

A favorable example of the composite yarns is a core-in-sheath type yarnor a covered yarn consisting of a core portion formed from one or moreyarns (1) having a high water-absorbing and self-elongating property anda sheath portion formed from a plurality of yarns (2) having a lowwater-absorbing and self-elongating property and surrounding the coreportion.

The composite yarn is manufactured by an air jet interlacing method, aTaslan air-jet method, a covering method, a composite false-twisttexturing method, etc. Among them, the covering method wherein the yarns(1) having a high water-absorbing and self-elongating property are usedas core yarns and the yarns (2) having a low water-absorbing andself-elongating property are wrapped around the core yarns, is used, theresultant composite yarns have a clear core-in-sheath structure whichimparts a high stretchability to the composite yarn.

FIG. 9 (FIGS. 9-(A) and 9-(B)) illustrates, as an example of the wovenor knitted fabric of the present invention containing two differenttypes of yarns, a weaving structure constituted from warp yarns 16consisting of the yarns (2) having a low water-absorbing andself-elongating property and weft yarns 17 consisting of composite yarnsconstituted from core yarns formed from the yarns (1) having a highwater-absorbing and self-elongating property and sheath yarns formedfrom the yarn (2) having a low water-absorbing and self-elongatingproperty. When the above-mentioned fabric in a dry state as shown inFIG. 9-(A) absorbs water to after wetting, the yarns (1) in thecomposite yarns, from which the weft yarns 17 are constituted, absorbwater and elongate, and therefore the weft yarns 17 elongate as a wholein the weft direction. Accordingly, a distance L1 between the adjacentwarp yarns 16 in a dry state increases into L2, and as a result, theopening area between the yarns in the weaving structure increases tofacilitate the air-permeability.

It is possible to manufacture clothing from the woven or knitted fabricof the present invention containing two different types of yarns, whichclothings are capable of increasing the air-permeability by absorbingwater.

The above-mentioned clothing may be underwear, for example, shirts, andsportswear, for example, trainers or sweaters.

The above-mentioned clothing may be totally or mainly formed from thewoven or knitted fabric of the present invention containing twodifferent types of yarns, or at least one part of the clothing selectedfrom an armhole, a side, a breast, a back and a shoulder portionsthereof may be formed of the woven or knitted fabric of the presentinvention containing two different types of yarns. In the latter case,most of the clothing is formed from a conventional woven or knittedfabric the air-permeability of which is not changed by the wetting,while at least one part thereof corresponding to body portions liable tosweat, namely, left and right armholes 21 shown in FIG. 10, left andright lower portions 22 of sleeves and left and right side portions asshown in FIG. 11, a center portion 24 of the breast as shown in FIG. 12,an upper middle portion 25 of a back as shown in FIG. 13 and left andright shoulder portion 26 as shown in FIG. 14 is formed from the wovenor knitted fabric of the present invention containing two differenttypes of yarns. A total area of the portions formed from the woven orknitted fabric of the present invention is preferably in the range offrom 500 to 10,000 cm² and in a proportion to the total area of theclothing in a range from 5 to 70%, more preferably from 10 to 60%. Ifthe proportion in area is less than 5%, the effect for facilitating theair-permeability in the wet portion becomes too low when the clothing ispartially wetted by the sweating. Contrarily, if the area proportion ismore than 70%, the change in dimension of the clothing may be too large,as a whole.

EXAMPLES

The present invention will be further explained with reference to thefollowing examples which are not intended to limit the scope of thepresent invention in any way. In the examples, the measurementsdescribed below were carried out.

(1) Length of a yarn in a woven or knitted fabric in dry and wet states

Measurement was carried out by the method as described hereinbefore.

(2) Self-elongation of yarn

Measurement was carried out by the method as described hereinbefore.

(3) Shrinkage of yarn in boiling water

Measurement was carried out in accordance with JIS L 1013-1998, 7.15.The number n of test pieces was 3.

(4) opening areas between yarns of woven or knitted fabric in dry andwet states and the change in the opening area.

Measurement was carried out by the method as described hereinbefore.

(5) Air-permeabilities of woven or knitted fabric in dry and wet statesand the change in the air-permeability Measurement was carried out bythe method as described hereinbefore.

(6) Thicknesses of concaves and convexes in woven or knitted fabric indry and wet states and roughness and the change in roughness of thefabric.

Measurement was carried out by the method as described hereinbefore.

Example 1

A polyetherester polymer consisting of 49.8 parts by mass of hardsegments formed from polybutylene terephthalate and 50.2 parts by massof soft segments formed from polyoxyethylene glycol having anumber-average molecular weight of 4,000 was melted at 230° C. and theresultant melt was extruded through a spinneret for spinning amonofilament at an extrusion rate of 3.05 g/min. Streams of thismelt-extruded polymer were taken up through two godet rollers at a speedof 705 m/min and then wound at a speed of 750 m/min (so that a windingdraft is 1.06), resulting in an elastic yarn (1) having a highwater-absorbing and self-elongating property and a yarn count of 44dtex/one filament. The self-elongation of this yarn (1) upon absorbingwater was 10% in the axial direction of the filament, and the shrinkagethereof in boiling water was 8%.

Also, a conventional polyethylene terephthalate multifilament yarn (84dtex/24 filaments) having a shrinkage of 10% in boiling water and aself-elongation of 1% or less in a wet state was used as anon-self-elongating yarn (2).

The yarn (1) and the yarns (2) was fed to a 28 gauge single circularknitting machine, while the yarn (1) was drafted at a draft of 50%, andthe yarn (2) was not drafted, paralleled yarn was, to produce a circularknitted fabric having a plain knitting structure at densities of 47courses/2.54 cm and 40 wales/2.54 cm. This circular knitted fabric wassubjected to the dyeing and finishing treatments. In the resultantcircular knitted fabric, circular knitted composite loops were formedfrom the yarns (1) and (2) as shown in FIG. 1-(A), and a ratio A/B inmean yarn length of the resultant knitted fabric was 0.7. The openingarea between the yarns of the resultant circular knitted fabric was 15%in a dry state and 23% in a wet state, the change in opening area was53%, the air-permeability of the fabric was 210 ml/cm² in a dry stateand 380 ml/cm² in a wet state, and the change in air-permeability was81%. In this circular knitted fabric, it was confirmed that the openingarea increased and the air-permeability increased as the fabric absorbedwater.

Example 2

A covered yarn (composite yarn) was produced from a core yarn consistingof the yarn (1) having a high water-absorbing and self-elongatingproperty which is the same that as used in Example 1, and a sheath yarnconsisting of the yarn (2) formed from polyethylene terephthalatemultifilament (33 dtex/12 filaments) having a shrinkage of 10% inboiling water and a self-elongation of 1% in a wet state, at a draft ofthe core yarn of 30% (1.3 times), with the number of turnings of thesheath yarn of 350/m (in the Z direction). The covered yarn a and apolyethylene terephthalate multifilament yarn b (84 dtex/72 filaments)having a shrinkage in boiling water of 8% and a self-elongation of 1% orless were fed to a 24 gauge double circular knitting machine to producea knitted fabric having a knitting structure as shown in FIG. 8 atdensities of 38 courses/2.54 cm and 32 wales/2.54 cm. This knittedfabric was subjected to the dyeing and finishing treatment. A ratio A/Bin mean yarn length of the resultant knitted fabric was 0.8.

A cross-sectional profile of the resultant knitted fabric in thethickness direction is illustrated in FIG. 7-(A) wherein a front surfaceply is formed solely from the non-self-elongating yarn (2) (polyethyleneterephthalate multifilament yarn b) and the back surface ply is formedfrom the covered yarn a (formed from the yarn (1) having a highwater-absorbing and self-elongating property and the non-self-elongatingyarn (2)), and regions having a highest content of the yarn (1) having ahigh water-absorbing and self-elongating property are not tucked withthe front surface ply. A course-directional width of regions formedsolely from the non-self-elongating yarn (2) in the back surface ply wasapproximately 7 mm and the course-directional width of regionscontaining the yarn (1) was approximately 7 mm.

The opening area of the resultant knitted fabric in dry state was 8% andthe air-permeability thereof was 180 ml/cm².sec. When this fabricabsorbed water, no change occurred in the dimensions thereof (length andwidth) as a whole. However, the regions formed of the covered yarncontaining the yarn (2) bulged out from the back surface to formconvexities. In the wet state, the opening area of this fabric was 10%(the change in the opening area was 25%) and the air-permeability was240 ml/cm².sec (the change in the gap area was 33%).

Thicknesses of the convexities and concavities, the roughness and thechange in roughness in the dry and wet test pieces of the fabric areshown in Table 1. TABLE 1 Thickness H1 Thickness H2 Change in ofconvexities of concavities Roughness roughness (mm) (mm) (%) (%) Drytest 0.88 0.81 8.7 51.5 piece Wet test 1.33 0.83 60.2 piece

It was confirmed that the knitted fabric of Example 2 exhibits apractically sufficient increase in opening area between yarns,air-permeability and a change in roughness between the dry and wetstates.

Comparative Example 1

A knitted fabric having plain knitting structure and densities of 40courses/2.54 cm and 35 wales/2.54 cm was produced from the same yarn (1)having a high water-absorbing and self-elongating property and the samenon-self-elongating yarn (2) (polyethylene terephthalate multifilamentyarn) as those used in Example 1 by using a 28 gauge single circularknitting machine while feeding both the yarns at the same speed as eachother with no draft. The fabric was then subjected to the dyeing andfinishing treatment. In the resultant circular knitted fabric, compositeloops were formed from the yarns (1) and (2). The ratio A/B in mean yarnlength of the yarn (1) to the yarn (2) was 1.0. Properties of thiscircular knitted fabric were as follows:

In the dry state

Opening area: 30%

Air-permeability: 350 ml/cm².sec

In a wet state

There are no changes in length and width of the fabric as a whole.

Opening area: 25% and change in opening area: −17%

Air permeability: 250 ml/cm².sec and change in air-permeability: −29%

The knitted fabric in Comparative example 1 did not exhibit thepractically advantageous increase in the opening area between the yarnsand air-permeability and the formation of convexities and concavities inthe wet state.

Comparative Example 2

A knitted fabric was prepared in the same manner as in Example 2 andsubjected to the dyeing and finishing operation, except that the coveredyarn formed of the yarns (1) and (2) was replaced by a ply yarn producedby combining the yarn (1) with the yarn (2) and twisting the combinedyarn with a doubling and twisting machine at a draft ratio of 0%. In theresultant circular knitted fabric, a ratio A/B in mean length of theyarn (1) to the yarn (2) was 1.0. This circular knitted fabric had thefollowing properties:

In a dry state

Opening area: 14%

Air-permeability: 230 ml/cm².sec

In a wet state

There was no change in length and width of the fabric as a whole.

Opening area: 12%. change in opening area: −14%

Air-permeability: 190 ml/cm².sec, change in air-permeability: −17%

The circular knitted fabric of Comparative example 2 was practicallyunsatisfactory since the opening area and the air-permeability of thefabric did not increase and no convexity and concavity were formed inthe fabric in a wet state.

Thicknesses of the convexities and concavities, the roughness and thechange in roughness in the dry and wet test pieces of the resultantfabric are shown in Table 2. TABLE 2 Thickness H1 Thickness H2 Change inof convexities of concavities Roughness roughness (mm) (mm) (%) (%) Drytest 0.85 0.81 4.9 4.9 piece Wet test 0.90 0.82 9.8 piece

Example 3

The same polyetherester monofilament yarn (1) (44 dtex/1 filament)having a high water-absorbing and self-elongating property as thatdescribed in Example 1 was used.

As non-self-elongating yarn (2), a false-twist textured polyethyleneterephthalate multifilament yarn (56 dtex/72 filaments) was used.

The yarns (1) were warped while being stretched at a draft of 100%,which yarns (1) were then fully set through back reeds of a 28 gaugetricot warp knitting machine, a warp and the yarns (2) were warpedwithout drafting and then fully set through front reeds of the knittingmachine, to produce a warp knitted fabric having a half tricot knittingstructure (back: 10/12 and front: 23/10) and densities on machine of 90courses/2.54 cm and 28 wales/2.54 cm. The knitted fabric was thensubjected to the dyeing and finishing treatment. The densities of theresultant warp knitted fabric were 105 courses/2.54 cm and 58 wales/2.54cm, and the ratio A/B in mean yarn length of the yarns (1) to the yarns(2) in the warp knitted fabric was 0.42. This warp knitted fabric hadthe following properties:

In a dry state

Air-permeability: 35 ml/cm².sec

In a wet state

Air-permeability: 87 ml/cm².sec, change in air-permeability: 149%

The above-mentioned warp knitted fabric exhibited an excellentwind-shielding property (low air-permeability) in the dry state, and ahigh air-permeability in the wet state.

Example 4

The same yarns (1) having a high water-absorbing and self-elongatingproperty and non-self-elongating yarn (2) as those in Example 1 wereused.

The yarn (1) was fed under a draft of 150% to a 28 gauge single circularknitting machine, together with the yarns (2) to produce a circularknitted fabric having a plain knitting structure and densities onmachine of 92 courses/2.54 cm and 46 wales/2.54 cm. The fabric was thensubjected to the dyeing and finishing treatment. The resultant circularknitted fabric had a densities of 106 courses/2.54 cm and 60 wales/2.54cm, and a ratio A/B in mean yarn length of the yarns (1) to the yarns(2) was 0.54. The air-permeability of this circular knitted fabric wasas follows:

In a dry state

Air-permeability: 45 ml/cm².sec

In a wet state

Air-permeability: 92 ml/cm².sec, change in air-permeability: 104%

The resultant circular knitted fabric exhibited an excellentwind-shielding property (low air-permeability) in a dry state, and ahigh air-permeability in a wet state.

Comparative Example 3

A warp knitted fabric having a circular interlock knitting structurewith densities of 74 courses/2.54 cm and 61 wales/2.54 mm on machine wasproduced by the same procedures as in Example 3, except that the yarns(1) were fed together with the yarns (2) without drafting to a 36 gaugesingle circular knitting machine. This circular interlock fabric wassubjected to the dyeing and finishing treatment.

The resultant circular knitted fabric had densities of 78 courses/2.54cm and 75 wales/2.54 cm and a ratio A/B in yarn length of the yarns (1)to the yarns (2) of 0.98. The air-permeability of the circular knittedfabric was as follows:

In a dry state

Air-permeability: 46 ml/cm².sec

In a wetted state

Air-permeability: 31 ml/cm².sec

Change in air-permeability: −33%

The circular knitted fabric exhibited an excellent wind-shieldingproperty (low air-permeability) in a dry state, but was unsatisfactoryin air-permeability in a wet state.

Example 5

The same polyether-ester monofilament yarns (1) (44 dtex/1 filament)having a high water-absorbing and self-elongating property as that inExample 1 was used, except that the self-elongating property uponabsorbing water of the yarns (1) was 25% and the shrinkage in boilingwater thereof was 20%.

A polyethylene terephthalate false twist textured yarn (56 dtex/144filaments, the shrinkage in boiling water of 10% and the self-elongatingproperty upon absorbing water of 1% or less) was used asnon-self-elongating yarns (2 a).

The yarns (1) and (2 a) were fed to a covered yarn-producing machine toproduce a stretchable, elastic composite yarn (covered yarn) having ayarn count of 80 dtex/144 filaments. In the covered yarn production, theyarn (1) was used as core yarn and the yarn (2 a) was used as a sheathyarn, the draft applied to the yarn (1) was 300%, the covering turnnumber of the yarn (2 a) was 1000 turns/m in s direction. In theresultant composite yarn, the ratio A/B in means yarn length of the yarn(1) to the yarn (2 a) was 0.29.

This composite yarn was used as a weft and a false twist-texturednon-self-elongating polyethylene terephthalate multifilament yarn (2 b)(the self-elongation upon absorbing water: 1% or less and 84 dtex/72filaments) was used as a warp.

A plain weave fabric was produced from the yarn (2 b) as warp and thecomposite yarn (the yarn (1)+the yarn (2 a)) as weft at a warp densityof 130 yarns/3.79 cm and a weft density of 126 yarns/3.79 cm, andsubjected to the dyeing and finishing treatment. The resultant wovenfabric had a cover factor CF of 2,400, and the air-permeability as shownbelow.

In a dry state

Air-permeability: 3.8 ml/cm.sec

In a wetted state

Air-permeability: 11.0 ml/cm².sec

Change in air-permeability: 189%

The above-mentioned plain weave fabric exhibited a high air-permeabilityin a wetted state which is practically satisfactory.

Example 6

A circular knitted fabric was prepared from the some yarns (1) having ahigh water-absorbing and self-elongating property and the somenon-self-elongating yarn (2) as those in Example 1 by the sameprocedures as in Example 1.

Separately, a circular knitted fabric having a circular interlockstructure with densities of 45 courses/2.54 cm and 41 wales/2.54 cm onmachine was produced from a false twist-textured polyethyleneterephthalate multifilament yarn (56 dtex/72 filaments; theself-elongation upon absorbing water: 1% or less) by using a 28 gaugedouble circular knitting machine of, and the resultant circular knittedfabric was subjected to the dyeing and finishing treatment. The changein air-permeability between dry and wet states of the knitted fabric was5% or less. This circular knitted fabric was cut and sewn to produce ashirt with half length sleeve.

Left and right armhole portions of the shirt with half length sleeves(armhole portions 21 in FIG. 10) was cut and removed and, thearmhole-removed shirt was re-assembled with the circular knitted fabriccontaining the yarns (1) and (2). The total area of the circular knittedfabric containing the yarns (1) and (2) used for the compensation was1,050 cm which corresponds to 10% of a total area of the shirt with halflength sleeves. The shirt with half length sleeves thus produced wassubjected to a wearing test in which the wearers run to sweat. As aresult, it was confirmed that this shirt is comfortable because theair-permeability of the left and right armhole portions is facilitated.Also, the change in dimensions of the shirt with half length sleeves duethe sweating and wetting was not substantially recognized.

For the purpose of comparison, the same wearing test was carried out ona shirt with half length sleeves of which left and armhole portions werenot cut and removed. As a result, when the left and right armholeportions were wetted with sweat, the feeling in wear becameuncomfortable because the air-permeability was poor.

UTILIZABILITY IN INDUSTRY

The woven or knitted fabric of the present invention containing twodifferent types of yarns capable of increasing the air-permeability uponwetting with water is useful as a clothing fabric, particularly forunderwears or sportswears, because the air-permeability of the fabricincreases upon wetting with water although the change in dimensionsthereof is relatively small. Also, the woven or knitted fabric of thepresent invention containing two different types of yarns does need notinclude expensive conjugated fibers or special processed yarns, and thusis suitable for the practical use.

1. A woven or knitted fabric containing two types of yarns differentfrom each other in a self-elongating property upon absorbing waterwherein, when a test piece is prepared from the fabric in such a mannerthat said woven or knitted fabric is stabilized in dimension in theatmosphere having a temperature at 20° C. and a relative humidity at 65%and then cut into pieces of 30 cm long in the warp or wale direction and30 cm long in the weft or course direction; and yarns (1) having a highwater-absorbing and self-elongating property and yarns (2) having a lowwater-absorbing and self-elongating property and respectively containedin the test pieces satisfy the following requirement:A/B≦0.9 wherein A represents a mean length of the yarns (1) having highwater-absorbent and self-elongative property and B represents a meanlength of said yarns (2) having low water-absorbing and self-elongatingproperty, the yarns (1) and (2) being arranged in the same direction aseach other in the test piece and picked up from the test piece; thelength of the respective yarn being measured under a load of 1.76mN/dtex when the yarn is a non-elastic yarn having an elongation atbreak of 200% or less or under a load of 0.0088 mN/dtex when the yarn isan elastic yarn having an elongation at break higher than 200%, andwhereby the air-permeability of said fabric increases when wetted withwater.
 2. The woven or knitted fabric containing two different types ofyarns as defined by claim 1 wherein, when the two types of yarns (1) and(2) different in the water-absorbing, self-elongating property arerespectively subjected to a measurement of self-elongation uponabsorbing water in such a manner that each of the yarns is wound 10times around a reel for hank having a circumference of 1.125 m longunder a load of 0.88 mN/dtex to form a hank; the hank is removed fromthe reel and left to stand in the air atmosphere having a temperature at20° C. and a relative humidity at 65% for 24 hours to dry the hank; thenthe length (Ld, m) of the dry hank is measured under a load of 1.76mN/dtex when the yarn is a non-elastic yarn having an elongation atbreak of 200% or less, or under a load of 0.0088 mN/dtex when the yarnis an elastic yarn having an elongation at break higher than 200%; thehank is immersed in water at a temperature at 20° C. for 5 minutes; thenthe hank is taken out from water; a length (Lw, m) of the wet hank ismeasured under the same load as described above in response to theelongation at break of the hank; and the self-elongation of each yarn iscalculated in accordance with the following equation:Self-elongation of yarn (%)=[(Lw−Ld)/(Ld)]×100 one (1) of the two typeof yarns is a high water-absorbing, self-elongating yarn having a meanself-elongation of +5% or more and the other (2) is a lowwater-absorbing, self-elongating yarn having a mean self-elongationlower than +5%.
 3. The woven or knitted fabric containing two differenttypes of yarns as defined by claim 2, wherein the difference (E₍₁₎−E₍₂₎)between the self-elongation (E₍₁₎) upon absorbing water of the yarn (1)and the self-elongation (E₍₂₎) upon absorbing water of the yarn (2) isin a range of from 5 to 40%.
 4. The woven or knitted fabric containingtwo different types of yarns as defined by claim 1, having a knittedfabric structure, in which the yarns (1) and (2) are combined inparallel with each other, and the combined yarns form composite yarnloops in the fabric.
 5. The woven or knitted fabric containing twodifferent types of yarns as defined by claim 1, having a woven fabricstructure in which the yarns (1) and (2) are combined in parallel witheach other, and the combined yarns form at least one of warps and weftsof the woven fabric.
 6. The woven or knitted fabric containing twodifferent types of yarns as defined by claim 1, wherein composite yarnsor paralleled yarns formed from the two types of yarns (1) and (2), andthe yarn (2) are arranged alternately with every at least one yarn in atleast one direction selected from the warp and weft directions of thewoven fabric structure or in at least one direction selected from thewale and course directions in the knitted fabric structure.
 7. The wovenor knitted fabric containing two different types of yarns as defined byclaim 1, wherein at least one of the yarns (1) is combined with at leastone of the yarns (2) to form a composite yarn.
 8. The woven or knittedfabric containing two different types of yarns as defined by claim 1,wherein fibers, from which the yarn (1) having a high water-absorbingand self-elongating property is constituted, are selected frompolyetherester fibers formed from polyetherester elastomer comprisinghard segments comprising polybutylene terephthalate blocks and softsegments comprising polyoxyethylene glycol blocks.
 9. A woven or knittedfabric containing two different types of yarns as defined by claim 1,wherein fibers from which the yarn (2) having a low water-absorbing andself-elongating property is constituted, are selected from polyesterfibers.
 10. A woven or knitted fabric containing two different types ofyarns as defined by claim 1 wherein, when the fabric is subjected to ameasurement of change in opening area of the fabric in such a mannerthat a plurality of test pieces of the woven or knitted fabric are leftto stand in the air atmosphere having a temperature at 20° C. and arelative humidity at 65% for 24 hours to prepare a plurality of dry testpieces and, separately, a plurality of other test pieces of said wovenor knitted fabric are immersed in water at a temperature at 20° C. for 5minutes, then taken out from water, and sandwiched between a pair offilter papers under the pressure of 490 N/m² for one minute to removewater existing in the interstices between fibers in the test pieces toprepare a plurality of wet test pieces, surfaces of each of the dry andwet test pieces are observed by an optical microscope at a magnificationof 20 and the opening areas of the dry and wetted test pieces arecalculated in accordance with the following equation:Opening area (%)=[(total area of openings between yarns)/(observedarea)]×100 then, a mean value of the measured opening areas of each ofthe dry and wetted test pieces are calculated and a change between themean opening area of the wetted test pieces and the mean opening area ofthe dry test pieces was calculated in accordance with the followingequation:Change in opening area (%)=[(mean opening area of wetted testpieces)−(mean opening area of dry test pieces)]/(mean opening area ofdry test pieces)×100, the resultant change in the opening area is atleast 10%.
 11. A woven or knitted fabric containing two different typesof yarns as defined by claim 1 wherein, when a plurality of test piecesof the woven or knitted fabric are left to stand in the air atmospherehaving a temperature of 20° C. and a relative humidity of 65% for 24hours to prepare a plurality of dry test pieces and, separately, aplurality of other test pieces of the woven or knitted fabric areimmersed in water at a temperature of 20° C. for 5 minutes, taken outfrom water, and sandwiched between a pair of filter papers under thepressure of 490 N/m² for one minute to remove water existing in theinterstices between fibers in the test piece to prepare a plurality ofwet test pieces, air-permeabilities of the dry and wetted test piecesare measured in accordance with JIS L 1096-1998, 6.27.1, Method A(Frazir type method), and a mean air-permeability of the dry test piecesand a mean air-permeability of the wet test pieces are calculated fromthe measurement data, and the change in air-permeability is calculatedin accordance to the following equation:Change in air-permeability=[(mean air-permeability of wetted testpieces)−(mean air-permeability of dry test pieces)]/(meanair-permeability of dry test pieces)×100, the resultant change inair-permeability is 30% or more.
 12. A woven or knitted fabriccontaining two different types of yarns as defined by claim 1, having achange in roughness of at least 5%; determined in such a manner that aplurality of test pieces of the woven or knitted fabric are left tostand in the air atmosphere at a temperature of 20° C. at a relativehumidity of 65% for 24 hours to prepare a plurality of dry test piecesand, separately, a plurality of other test pieces of the woven orknitted fabric are immersed in water at a temperature of 20° C. for 5minutes, are taken out from water, and then are sandwiched between apair of filter papers under the pressure of 490 N/m² for one minute toremove water existing in the interstices between fibers in the testpieces to prepare a plurality of wet test pieces, thickness (H1) ofconvexities and thickness (H2) of concavities formed in the woven orknitted fabric structure of each dry and wetted test pieces aremeasured, a roughness of each of the dry and wetted test pieces iscalculated in accordance with the following equation:Roughness (%)=(thickness H1 of convexities)−(thickness H2 of concaveportion)/(thickness H2 of concavities)×100 wherein the thickness H1 ofthe convexities is a mean thickness of a convexities having an area of 1mm×1 mm and the thickness H2 of the concavities is a mean thickness ofthe concavities having an area of 1 mm×1 mm and located in anapproximately center part between two convexities adjacent to theconcavities in the warp or course direction thereof, and the change inroughness is calculated in accordance with the following equation:Change in roughness=[(roughness of wetted test piece)−(roughness of drytest piece)]/100
 13. A woven or knitted fabric containing two differenttypes of yarns as defined by claim 1, having a woven fabric structure inwhich structure a group (W₍₁₎) consisting of a plurality of warp yarns,each formed solely from the yarns (2) having a low water-absorbing,self-elongating property and a group (W₍₁₊₂₎) consisting of a pluralityof warp yarns, each formed of a composite yarn or a paralleled yarnformed from the yarns (1) having a high water-absorbing, self-elongatingproperty and the yarns (2) having a low water-absorbing, self-elongatingproperty, are alternately arranged with each other and the warp yarngroups intersect a group (F₍₁₎) consisting of a plurality of weft yarns,each formed solely from the yarns (2) having a low water-absorbing,self-elongating property, and a group (F₍₁₊₂₎) consisting of a pluralityof weft yarns, each formed from composite yarns formed from the yarns(1) having a high water-absorbing, self-elongating property and theyarns (2) having a low water-absorbing, self-elongating property,whereby a plurality of regions having a high water-absorbing andself-elongating property and formed by the intersection of the warpgroup (W₍₁₊₂₎) and the weft group (F₍₁₊₂₎), are arranged with spacesfrom each other both in the warp and weft directions, in the form ofislands in sea.
 14. A woven or knitted fabric containing two differenttypes of yarns as defined by claim 1, having a double knitted structurecomprising a cylinder side knitted layer and a dial side knitted layertucked from either one of said layers to the other, wherein the cylinderside knitted layer is formed from the yarns (2) having a lowwater-absorbing, self-elongating property, and in the dial side knittedlayer, regions composed solely of the yarns (2) having a lowwater-absorbing, self-elongating property and regions composed ofcomposite yarns, each formed of the yarn (1) having a highwater-absorbing, self-elongating property and the said yarn (2) having alow water-absorbing, self-elongating property, are arranged alternatelywith each other in the course direction and/or the wale direction.
 15. Awoven or knitted fabric, containing two different types of yarns asdefined by claim 1, having a triply knitted structure comprising acylinder side knitted layer, a dial side knitted layer and anintermediate knitted layer disposed between the above-mentioned twolayers; in every adjacent two layers of the three knitted layers, eitherone of the two layers being tucked from the other, wherein theintermediate knitted layer is formed solely of the yarns (2) having alow water-absorbing, self-elongating property, and in each of said dialside and cylinder side knitted layers, regions composed solely of theyarns (2) having a low water-absorbing, self-elongating property andregions composed of composite yarns, each formed of the yarn (1) havinga high water-absorbing, self-elongating property and the yarn (2) havinga low water-absorbing, self-elongating property, are alternatelyarranged with each other in the course direction and/or the waledirection.
 16. A woven or knitted fabric containing two different typesof yarns as defined by claim 1, having a knitted fabric structure formedfrom of the two types of yarns (1) and (2), wherein the knitted fabricstructure has a yarn density satisfying the following equation:Co×We≧2,000 wherein Co represents the number of courses per 2.54 cm inthe transverse direction of said knitted fabric, and We represent thenumber of wales per 2.54 cm in the longitudinal direction of saidknitted fabric.
 17. A woven or knitted fabric, containing two differentyarns as defined by claim 1, wherein one surface of said woven orknitted fabric is raised by the raising treatment.
 18. A woven orknitted fabric, containing two different types of yarns as defined byclaim 1, having an air-permeability of 50 ml/cm².sec or less, determinedin accordance with JIS L 1096-1998, 6.27.1, Method A (Frazir typemethod), in the air atmosphere having a temperature of 20° C. and arelative humidity of 65%.
 19. A woven or knitted fabric, containing twodifferent types of yarns as defined by claim 1, having a woven fabricstructure in which one of warp and weft of the fabric is formed fromcomposite or paralleled yarns, each formed from at least one yarn havinga high water-absorbing, self-elongating property and at least one yarnhaving a low water-absorbing, self-elongating property, and the otherone of warp and weft is formed from the yarns having a lowwater-absorbing, self-elongating property, and further exhibiting acover factor in a range of from 1,800 to 2,800.
 20. A woven or knittedfabric containing two different types of yarns as defined by claim 19,wherein the composite yarn comprises a core portion formed from at leastone yarn having a high water-absorbing, self-elongating property and asheath portion surrounding the core portion and formed from a pluralityof yarns having a low water-absorbing, self-elongating property. 21.Clothing comprising the woven or knitted fabric containing two differenttypes of yarns as defined by claim 1, and capable of increasing theair-permeability thereof upon absorbing water.
 22. Clothing as definedby claim 21, wherein at least one portion of said clothing selected froman armhole, a side, a bust, a back and a shoulder is formed from thewoven or knitted fabric containing two different yarns.
 23. Clothing asdefined by claim 21, selected from underwear.
 24. Clothing as defined byclaim 21, selected from sportswear.